Skip’s promoted scratch side put Saddleworth to the sword in opener

Hebden Bridge’s promoted scratch team began life in Division Two of the Halifax, Huddersfield Union’s scratch league with an excellent 9-1 home win over Saddleworth.

The club flag, at half mast for the much missed Dave Fisher, was buffeted by a strong breeze as the five singles matches teed off.

Iain Powell hardly misses a beat around the Great Mount course and was always in control, beating Nick Marner 3 & 2.

The other four matches all looked set to go to the 18th.

Midgley United’s cup winning striker George Bamford went down the last one up but a sliced tee shot into a gorse bush led to a halved match.

Henry Butterworth’s match against Steve Pullen also went to the final hole. Butterworth’s controlled drive and flighted approach left him with a 10 foot putt for birdie and with Pullen making a hash of his approach, the Bridge man Henry took the two putts he had for the game.

Mark Powell was involved in played the par threes flawlessly to beat Saddleworth’s young star Ben Pullen 2 & 1.

Jonny Cockroft made his scratch team debut in the final match and was in at the deep end against last year’s Union president Dave Pullen.

Cockroft is enjoying a sporting purple patch at present and played some relentless par golf to close his match out 2 & 1.

The previous Saturday 80 players had competed in Robert Dutson’s very successful Rabbits Captain’s Day.

Despite a strong and gusty wind all the prizes were keenly contested.

Graham Boulton won the Past Rabbits Captain’s prize with a score of 37 Stableford points whilst early bird Frances Tighe won the ladies prize with 31 points.

The guest prize winner, Ian Calvert, had travelled 200 miles for his 34 points.

Dutson explained that he had been introduced to golf by Rabbit Colin Greenwood, who won third prize on a count back with 39 points.

One of the club’s new young members Joe Gibson pipped him to second place. Joe was playing off 19 and looks unlikely to remain a rabbit until the end of the season.

The first members prize was also won by a youngster, Henry Butterworth, whose five handicap was also under threat after scoring 41 points.

Steve Scholes was pleased to win the nearest pin on the seventh green, his ball rimming the hole before finishing five inches away.

Guest Eric Charnley won the straightest drive on the third, being 11 inches from the line.